2026 PVD Cello Fest!
¡Festival de Violonchelo PVD 2026!
PVD Cello Fest returns to Providence on May 8 and May 9, 2026 for two days of performances, workshops, improvisation, folk music, jazz, contemporary music, and music from the Arab tradition. The festival brings together local and visiting musicians for concerts and informal daytime programming across several Providence venues, including AS220, Providence Public Library, CHOP Restaurant at PPL, and Community MusicWorks.
This year’s festival features Grammy-nominated cellist and composer Naseem Alatrash, who will lead a workshop on the fundamentals of Arabic Maqam for string instruments and close the festival with percussionist Tareq Rantisi. The weekend also includes original songs, experimental music, old-time music, free improvisation, viola da gamba, contemporary string music, and a performance by String Power!, Tom Swafford’s string group.
Schedule
Friday, May 8
AS220 Main Stage
115 Empire St, Providence, RI 02903
7:30 PM
Jake Sokolov-Gonzalez, Eden Rayz, Prior Panic, EDT, and Chris Tate perform original songs, jazz, experimental, and improvised music.
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Saturday, May 9
Providence Public Library
150 Empire St, Providence, RI 02903
10:00–11:30 AM
Fundamentals of Arabic Maqam on String Instruments with 2026 guest artist Naseem Alatrash, Grammy nominee and composer. Open to string players of all levels. No background in Arabic music is required. Registration: https://provlib.libcal.com/event/16636645
11:40 AM–12:00 PM
James Perretta performs a set of viola da gamba.
12:00–12:25 PM
Roseminna Watson and Esther Rogers perform contemporary and original music for violin and cello.
12:25–12:45 PM
Sophie Chang performs a set of folk music.
12:45–12:55 PM
Zan Berry and Isabel Castellvi perform a set of free improvisation.
1:00–2:00 PM
Old-time jam with Sammy Wetstein, open to the public.
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Saturday, May 9
CHOP Restaurant at Providence Public Library
2:20–2:35 PM
Rob Bethel performs a solo improvisation.
2:35–2:55 PM
2025 Cello Fest featured artist Sammy Wetstein performs.
3:00–3:30 PM
The afternoon culminates with String Power!, Tom Swafford’s string group, performing pop, jazz, and original tunes.
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Saturday, May 9
Community MusicWorks
1326 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02909
7:30 PM
PVD Cello Fest concludes with a performance by Grammy-nominated cellist and composer Naseem Alatrash and percussionist Tareq Rantisi. Naseem will present music from his latest album, Bright Colors on a Dark Canvas, along with selections from the Arab music tradition.
PVD Cello Fest regresa a Providence el 8 y 9 de mayo de 2026 para dos días de presentaciones, talleres, improvisación, música folk, jazz, música contemporánea y música de la tradición árabe. El festival reúne a músicos locales y visitantes para conciertos y programación informal diurna en varios lugares de Providence, incluyendo AS220, Providence Public Library, CHOP Restaurant en PPL y Community MusicWorks.
Este año el festival presenta al violonchelista y compositor nominado al Grammy Naseem Alatrash, quien dirigirá un taller sobre los fundamentos del Maqam árabe para instrumentos de cuerda y cerrará el festival junto al percusionista Tareq Rantisi. El fin de semana también incluye canciones originales, música experimental, música tradicional, improvisación libre, viola da gamba, música contemporánea para cuerdas y una presentación de String Power!, el grupo de cuerdas de Tom Swafford.
Programa
Viernes, 8 de mayo
AS220 Main Stage
115 Empire St, Providence, RI 02903
7:30 PM
Jake Sokolov-Gonzalez, Eden Rayz, Prior Panic, EDT y Chris Tate interpretan canciones originales, jazz, música experimental e improvisada.
⸻
Sábado, 9 de mayo
Providence Public Library
150 Empire St, Providence, RI 02903
10:00–11:30 AM
Fundamentos del Maqam árabe en instrumentos de cuerda con la artista invitada 2026 Naseem Alatrash, nominada al Grammy y compositora. Abierto a intérpretes de cuerda de todos los niveles. No se requiere experiencia previa en música árabe. Registro: https://provlib.libcal.com/event/16636645
11:40 AM–12:00 PM
James Perretta interpreta un set de viola da gamba.
12:00–12:25 PM
Roseminna Watson y Esther Rogers interpretan música contemporánea y original para violín y violonchelo.
12:25–12:45 PM
Sophie Chang interpreta un set de música folk.
12:45–12:55 PM
Zan Berry e Isabel Castellvi interpretan un set de improvisación libre.
1:00–2:00 PM
Jam de música tradicional con Sammy Wetstein, abierto al público.
⸻
Sábado, 9 de mayo
CHOP Restaurant en Providence Public Library
2:20–2:35 PM
Rob Bethel realiza una improvisación en solitario.
2:35–2:55 PM
El artista destacado del Cello Fest 2025, Sammy Wetstein, se presenta.
3:00–3:30 PM
La tarde culmina con String Power!, el grupo de cuerdas de Tom Swafford, interpretando pop, jazz y canciones originales.
⸻
Sábado, 9 de mayo
Community MusicWorks
1326 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02909
7:30 PM
PVD Cello Fest concluye con una presentación del violonchelista y compositor nominado al Grammy Naseem Alatrash y el percusionista Tareq Rantisi. Naseem presentará música de su último álbum, Bright Colors on a Dark Canvas, junto con selecciones de la tradición musical árabe.
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